About our name: "The Overall Wearing Dude Ranch"

One of the most well known Apple Valley, California Dude Ranches was the Murray Ranch – aka “The Overall Wearing Dude Ranch”.  It was unique in that it was owned by African Americans and catered to an African American clientele during it’s heyday in the 1940s and ‘50s.  The ranch was advertised as the “The only negro dude ranch in the world”.

After being profiled in Life Magazine and Ebony magazine in 1937, they were buzzing with activities and being frequented by many famous African American guests that enjoyed the laid-back ranch life and these included Joe Louis, Mary Mcleod Bethune, famous architect Paul Williams, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.  The ranch was owned by Nolie and Lela Murray but was eventually sold to singer and actress Pearl Bailey. 

The ranch served as the set for two of the world’s only four black singing cowboy movies  (Bronze Buckaroo and Harlem Rides the Range).   

We cater to a multi-ethnic clientele but we are African Americans and found the Murray Ranch intriguing and decided to name our ranch after their nickname – The Overall Wearing Dude Ranch! 

For more information on the original Murray Ranch please visit http://www.mojavehistory.com/murray1.html